William Mathias

SATURDAY 17/3/2012 10am - 12pm
School of Music Building, Bangor University
Masterclasses - Ensemble Cymru

An opportunity for local clarinettist, violinists and viola players to receive individual tuition from members of Wales' premiere chamber ensemble. The standard should be Grade 7 or higher and registration is required: please contact the festival for further details.
Fees: for participants, £8; for audience members, £5 / £3 (adults/full-time education).
(These masterclasses are presented in collaboration with the School of Music, Bangor University, and the Canolfan Gerdd and Gwasanaeth Ysgolion William Mathias.)

Click here for more information

 

SATURDAY 21/04/2012 9:30am - 3:30pm
Ysgol Friars, Bangor
Strings Workshop with Luke Crooks

Llongyfarchaidau mawr i Band Ysgol Bontnewydd ac Ensemble Bontnewydd (sef Ela Haf Williams, Deio Llyr, Lois Angharad a Dafydd Euros) a fu'n llwyddiannus yn Eisteddfod Sir Eryri - byddent yn mynd ymlaen i Eisteddfod Eryri a gynhelir yn Glynllifon fis Mehefin .

Diolch i Mr Dylan Williams am eu hyfforddi a phob lwc iddynt yng Nglynllifon

 

Cynhaliwyd cyngerdd Rhanbarth Caernarfon yn diweddar yn neuadd P.J. Bangor gyda gwesteion o Grwp Chwythbrennau Conwy a band Pres sir Ddinbych.
Cafwyd cyngerdd arbennig gyda dwieddglo gwych lle roedd 170 o bobol ifanc yn cyd berfformio .
Diolch i bawb a fu'n rhan o'r cyngerdd ac i bawb am gefnogi.

 

Cynhaliwyd cyngerdd Nadolig Ysgol Bontnewydd Dydd Mercher Rhagfyr 14eg 2011 - gyda Band y dechreuwyr a Band Hyn yr Ysgol. Mae 22 o ddisgyblion erbyn hyn yn derbyn gwersi yn yr ysgol dan hyfforddiant Mr Dylan Williams.

Mae llawer o ddisgyblion yr ysgol wedi bod yn llwyddiannus iawn yn eu arholiad offerynnol pres dan yr Associated Board. Mae un disgybl yn arbennig wedi derbyn yn o'r marciau uchaf trwy'r wlad sef Ela Haf Williams - Blwyddyn 4 a dderbyniodd 141 o farciau allan o 150 yn ei arholiad Cornet gradd 1. Llongyfarchiadau mawr iddi hi a Mr Williams ei athro ar eu llwyddiant.

 

Highest Marks

Llongyfarchiadau i'r eneth yma o Ysgol Bontnewydd am gael y marc uchaf yn arholiad Gradd 1 Cornet (mark 141)

Aelodau Chwyth a Pres Rhanbarth Caernarfon- Cyngerdd Tachwedd 2011

CAFWYD NOSON ARBENNIG IAWN YNG NGHWMNI GRWP LLINYNNOL , BAND CHWYTH IAU A'R BAND CHWYTH HYN - RHANBARTH CAERNARFON . ROEDD THEATR SEILO YN ORLAWN A DIOLCH I BAWB AM GEFNOGI.

 

Band Chwyth yn cynnal cyngerdd yng Nghartref y Pwyliaid , Penrhos a gynhaliwyd Nos Fercher, Gorffennaf 6ed 2011
Cafwyd cyngerdd arbennig iawn.
Diolch i bawb am gymryd rhan ar ran y Gwasanaeth.

Arfon Area Concert 3rd Term (2011)

The Concert was held at Theatr Seilo Caernarfon

 

"Band Ysgol Llanfairpwll ar y llwyfan yn Abertawe - fe gafwyd cyntaf gyda chanmoliaeth uchel iawn - diolch i Gwyn a'i ddawn ryfeddol"
Dafydd Idriswyn Roberts, Pennaeth.

Click here to see the video

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Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2011

Congratulations to everyone who have been succesfull in the Urdd Eisteddfod - All the best to you all in Abertawe.

Here are the Bontnewydd Brass group who succeeded in the county Eisteddfod and will now be competing in Abertawe. The Band was established last Christmas by Mr Dylan Williams.

 

Congratulations to the Junior Brass Band on being awarded with the Gold Award at the British Youth Brass Competition 2011 , Sunday 10th April .

Many thanks to Mr John Glyn Jones, Mr Dylan Williams, Mr Wynne Williams, Mr Mike McMahon & Miss Bethan Evans for their hard work during the rehearsals.

Day 1

Day 2

 

This weekend sees the North Wales Youth Orchestra’s weeklong residential course at Moreton Hall School, Oswestry come to a spectacular climax as over sixty young musicians play two amazing concerts. The first concert will be held at Clwyd Theatr Cymru Mold, on Friday, August 27th at 7pm with the second at Pritchard Jones Hall Bangor on Saturday, August 28th at 7pm.

Click here for more information.

For an online report from Golwg click here.

Dear harpist

The William Mathias Music service are offering young harpists the opportunity to be part of a new junior harp Ensemble whilst also recruiting for the Senior Harp Ensemble in 2010-2011. Playing in an ensemble is a valuable experience and develops new skills and the chance to learn new repertoire.

Youth Harp Ensemble - We are looking for young players who :
• are playing grade 3+
• play a non pedal / pedal harp
• can commit to six rehearsals once a month (September - March, on a Saturday) in Porthmadog
• can bring their own harp to rehearsals and concerts ( we can offer help if this you do not own a harp)

Senior Harp Ensemble - We are looking for young players who :
• are playing grade 5 +
• play a non pedal / pedal harp
• can commit to six rehearsals once a month (September - March, on a Saturday) in Porthmadog
• can bring their own harp to rehearsals and concerts ( we can offer help if this you do not own a harp)

Are you interested?
Auditions for the above ensembles will take place on july the 3rd at Ysgol Eifion Wyn, Porthmadog. You will need to play two contrasting pieces (no more than 5 minutes) as well as take a simple theory exercise. You may play sections of pieces if the time limit is difficult for you.

We will be offering places to those who are suitable and the rehearsals will start at the end of September under the leadership of Einir Hughes (Junior Harp Ensemble) and Alwena Roberts (Senior Harp Ensemble).

If you are interested, please fill in the form below and return to the office (address below) by the 24th of June. We will then contact you with an audition time as soon as possible.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Click here for an application form.

New Staff Registration

William Mathias Music Service for schools are looking for individuals who are interested in working for the service. As the next academic year is fast approaching, we are aiming to offer new services such as whole classroom teaching, music technology as well as one to one instrumental and vocal teaching.
The next few weeks are key in our calendar as we receive school contracts and plan our year ahead. It is therefore an ideal time to hear from eager musicians and teachers who are looking for work.

William Mathias now employs over a hundred staff and delivers service in three counties: Anglesey, Gwynedd and Denbighshire. Our new website www.cerdd.com provides full information about the breadth of the service including all local and county ensemble playing.

If you are interested in being available to work for the service, please could you register your interest by completing the attached form and return it with a current c.v including the name, address and contact number of two referees to the address below. If your application is suitable, we will call you immediately for an interview and if successful, will ask you to complete relevant forms as well as a CRB. This process will enable us to place you immediately should a working opportunity arise.

Looking forward to hearing from you !

Sincerely

Mari Lloyd Pritchard
Director

Click here for an application form.

Congratulations to all of the following on their great achievement  at the National urdd Eisteddfod 2010 last week!! many of these individuals and schools are linked with the service. Well done everyone - keep going !

Piano Solo Year 6 and Under

3rd  Gwenno Morgan- Ysgol Gynradd Y Garnedd

Harp Solo year 6 and Under

2nd  Math Roberts- Ysgol Llanrug

Recroder Group Year 6 and Under

2nd Ysgol  Gynradd Y Faenol

Woodwind Solo Year 6 and Under

1st Hana Abas -Ysgol Y Garnedd

Orchestra/Band year 6 and Under

2nd  Ysgol Gynradd Llanfairpwll

Brass Solo Year 6 and Under

3rd Iago Davies- Ysgol Gynradd Penybryn-Bethesda

Brass Solo Year 7-9

2nd Pippa Scourse- Ysgol Gyfun David Hughes

Woodwind Solo Year 7-9

3rd David John Sutton- Ysgol Gyfun David Hughes

Band Year 7-9

3rd Aelwyd Bro Llanwnda

Ensemble Year 7-9

3rd Ysgol Uwchradd Brynhyfryd

Brass Solo year 10 and Under 19

2nd Gwyn Owen -Ysgol Uwchradd Tryfan

Vocal Ensemble Year 13 and Under

3rd Ysgol Uwchradd Syr Huw Owen

Harp Solo Year 10 and Under 19

1st Glain Dafydd- Ysgol Uwchradd Tryfan

Piano Solo Year 10 and Under 19

1st James Coleman- Ysgol Gyfun David Hughes
2nd Patrick Edgar Rimes- Ysgol Tryfan

Strings Solo Year 10 and Under 19

2nd Patrick Edgar Rimes- Ysgol Tryfan

Orchestra/Band Under 25

1st Ysgol Tryfan

Ensemble 15-25 years

1st Ysgol Tryfan

Instrumental Duet year 13 and Under

2nd Rhianwen a Nia – Adran Brithdir
3rd Patrick Rimes a Gwyn Owen -Ysgol Uwchradd Tryfan

Group/Band 15-25 years

2nd Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn-Meirionydd

Tlws Y Cerddor:

Arwel Rhys Williams – Tiwtor Piano

Click on this link to see the "Wedi 7" programme on S4C celebrating the Gwynedd Môn Youth Brass Band's recent success.

Celebrating !

Following their recent success, the Senior Brass Band celebrated at Glasfryn Park with an afternoon of karting, bowling and a barbecue to follow ! Do you recognise anyone under the helmets?

Sarn Bach Primary School as you can see in the photograph, is a very musical school as almost half of it’s students have instrumental lessons in school - well done !! As you can see from the photograph - Brass and Wind instruments take the limelight and they enjoy performing as soloists and groups. Mr Wyn Williams, who has been teaching Brass at the school on behalf of the music service for 23 years, takes great pride in teaching the children and is very proud of their achievements. Thank you to Wyn for his hard work !

Congratulations to students who were successful in the Mostyn Instrumental competition. The competition is part of Llandudno Arts Week and it's great to see our students aiming for solo competitions ! For more pictures and all the information on the weekends events, click on the following link: www.llandudnoartsfestival.moonfruit.com

 

Report coming soon ......

 

 

Area Concerts and Awards

Once again we had a terrific series of concerts across all areas by the Area Groups this term. During the Spring Concerts each year, the most promising musicians from each group is presented with an award; this is a recognition for their hard work over the year - not only as individuals but also for the groups they represent. This is a list of the winners for 2010:

Caernarfon Area

String Group - Sion Grenet -ffidil/violin Junior Wind Band - Jos Davison & Luned Hunter - Tenor Horn & Trumpet Senior Wind Band - Adam Bragan - Cornet

Meirionnydd Area

String Group - Dan West - Viola
Junior Band - Steffan Parry - Cornet
Senior Band - Siwan Parry - Tenor Sax

Bangor Area

Senior Strings - Elin Taylor - Cello
Junior strings - Alana Price - Violin
Beginner Strings - Cameron Williams - Violin Senior Wind Band - Harry Clarke - Percussion Junior Wind Band - Wesyn Dafydd - Percussion

Eifionydd Area

Ensemble Eifionydd - Lisa Cartwright - Flute

Botwnnog Area

Wind Band - Sioned Pozzi
String Group - Mali Davies Hughes - Violin

Pwllheli Area

Wind Band - Lowri Williams
String Group - Elen Haf Davies - Violin

Môn Area

The Michael Swallow Award 2010 - Pupil fromYsgol Syr Thomas Jones - Dewi Humphreys The 2010 Michael Swallow Award - Brass - Pippa Scourse The 2010 Ymddiriedolaeth Cerdd Ynys Môn (Anglesey Music Trust) Award - Strings - Olivia Jago The 2010 Ymddiriedolaeth Cerdd Ynys Môn (Anglesey Music Trust) Award - Woodwind - Catherine Jones

Dylan Williams
Area Groups Coordinator

Fo BBC News report click here.

To listen to the radio interview again click here.

Mae Band Pres Hŷn Gwynedd a Môn yn dathlu llwyddiant anhygoel heddiw gan iddynt ennill teitl Pencampwyr Bandiau Pres Ieuenctid Prydain. Dan arweinyddiaeth medrus Gwyn Evans a chefnogaeth criw profiadol o diwtoriaid, mae'r band wedi cyrraedd y brig yn uwch-adran Pencampwriaeth Bandiau Pres Ieuenctid Prydain fawr. Roedd y beirniaid yn canmol safon uchel y perfformiad ac yn canmol yn aruchel arweinaid medrus Gwyn Evans. Llongyfarchiadau enfawr i chi gyd !

Dyma sylwadau y wefan 4 bars rest ar y gystadleuaeth:-

"The National Youth Championships of Great Britain took place amid a controlled frenzy of youthful exuberance at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music on Sunday, where 39 youth ensembles battled it out for glory on a wonderful day of contesting.

Premier Section

The Blue Riband ‘Premier Section’ title was won by Gwynedd & Mon District County Youth conducted by Gwyn Evans, with a performance described by adjudicator Peter Parkes as one of the finest he had heard at any level of banding for many years.

Both he and fellow judge Sheona White had special praise for the conductor who Peter felt understood ‘every note of the test piece’, ‘Partita’ by Philip Wilby, to such an extent that he advised the band to lock him in a cupboard until next year to stop any other band trying to come and poach him away!

The winning MD told 4BR: "It was such a thrill to be part of this today. The band was incredible – simply incredible."

 

Ers canol mis Ionawr buon ni, aelodau côr newydd sbon Gwasanaeth Ysgolion William Mathias, yn ymarfer ar gyfer cyngerdd mawreddog yng Nghaerdydd i ddathlu Gŵyl Dewi, a hynny mewn tipyn o steil! Ein tiwtoriaid oedd Jenny Pearson a Pat Jones, gydag Arwel Wyn Williams yn cyfeilio i ni yn yr ymarferion. Trefnwyd y prosiect gan y BBC, a rhoddwyd  cyfle i gorau ieuenctid siroedd Cymru ymuno i ganu cyfres o saith o ddarnau (un i’w ganu oddi ar ein cof) dan y teitl Dewi Sant, a gyfansoddwyd gan neb llai na Karl Jenkins. Cynhaliwyd y cyngerdd nos Lun, Mawrth 1, yn Neuadd Dewi Sant, Caerdydd, a chafodd ei ddarlledu’n fyw ar Radio Cymru.

Roedd y daith i lawr i Gaerdydd yn un hir, gyda phob troad diflas yr A470 yn chwarae hafog gyda stumogau ambell un! Serch hynny, roedd ’na ddigon o hwyl ar y bws — fe wylion ni ffilm, cafwyd gêm gystadleuol iawn o gardiau ac, wrth gwrs (gyda phedair ar ddeg o enethod ar y bws) roedd digon o siarad!

Wedi cyrraedd y brifddinas (a hynny chwarter awr yn hwyr oherwydd traffig!) aethon ni’n syth i’r ymarfer, a gynhaliwyd yn Neuadd Hoddinott dan arweiniad Adrian Partington, arweinydd Corws Cenedlaethol y BBC a fyddai hefyd yn ein harwain ni a Cherddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC yn y cyngerdd. O’r cychwyn cyntaf, roedd y gŵr yma yn gyfan gwbl o ddifri’! Ar ôl cynhesu’r lleisiau, aeth dros fannau anodd y darnau a chyfleu inni sut roedd ynganu’r geiriau Lladin yn gywir er pwrpas yr awyrgylch yr roedd ei angen, ac, yn wir, daeth 5 o’r gloch cyn inni droi rownd a’r ymarfer cyntaf drosodd. Yn ffodus, doedd ein gwesty am y penwythnos, Gwersyll yr Urdd, Caerdydd, ond prin rownd y gornel i Neuadd Hoddinott. Wedi rhybudd diogelwch gan reolwr y Gwersyll, roedden ni’n eistedd wrth y byrddau bwyd yn mwynhau ein swper.

Yn dilyn ein pryd, roedd gennym noson rydd, felly awgrymwyd mynd i fowlio deg yng Nghanolfan y Ddraig Goch a oedd dros y ffordd i’r Gwersyll. Gwaetha’r modd, roedd y lle’n llawn, felly mi benderfynon ni fynd i Tesco, prynu diod ysgafn, ychydig o fwyd, a dychwelyd i’r Gwersyll lle’r oedd cyfaill i Jenny wedi dod â’i liniadur gyda dewis o ffilmiau i ni eu gwylio. Diwrnod un drosodd, ac roedd wedi bod yn ddiwrnod da, yn sicr!

Er anfoddhad i bawb yn y côr, roedd yr ymarfer ddydd Sul wedi’i drefnu erbyn 10 o’r gloch y bore yn Neuadd Dewi Sant, ac roedd hynny’n golygu gorfod codi’n fore! Serch hynny, roedd pawb i lawr yn y ffreutur tua hanner awr wedi wyth pan weinwyd y brecwast ac yn fuan wedyn cychwynnodd y bws am ganol y dref. Roedd canu yn y neuadd hon yn brofiad hollol wahanol i ganu yn Neuadd Hoddinott — roedd y côr yn fwy ar wasgar ac wedi’i leoli uwch ben lle byddai’r gerddorfa yn chwarae. Am y tro olaf, cawsom biano yn cyfeilio i ni, ac hefyd am y tro olaf, cawsom gopïau i’r darn yr oeddem i fod yn ei gofio! Yn yr ymarfer p’nawn, y gerddorfa oedd oddi tanom ni, ac yn disgwyl dim camgymeriadau! Roedd hynny’n brofiad gwefreiddiol ac roedd ein lleoliad yn cynnig cyfle gwych i gael gweld y gerddorfa i gyd. Yn dilyn ein hymarfer ni, roedd y gerddorfa yn ymarfer ar gyfer ei rhaglen hwy a fyddai yn hanner cyntaf y cyngerdd. Cafodd y corau gyfle i aros yn y neuadd a gwrando arnynt yn ymarfer, ac roedd pob un ohonom yn falch ein bod wedi derbyn y cynnig!    

Cawsom noson arall i’w llenwi, a’r tro yma, roedd y lle bowlio’n wacach, felly roedd lle i ni i gyd gael gêm. Fel y tybiwch chi, roedd chwerthin mawr a rhai’n cael gwell hwyl nag eraill, ond mae’n deg dweud nad ydi Pencampwriaethau Bowlio’r Byd dan unrhyw fygythiad wedi ein gweld ni wrthi!

Fore trannoeth doedd dim cymaint o ruthr gan nad oedd angen bod yn ein seddau yn y Neuadd tan bedwar o’r gloch ond, wedi dweud hynny, doedd dim amser i ddiogi chwaith! Roedd ein tiwtoriaid wedi trefnu i ni fynd i Amgueddfa Sain Ffagan yn y bore, yna i nofio ym Mhwll Nofio Rhyngwladol Caerdydd ac i orffen, i Ganolfan Dewi Sant (i sŵn cymeradwyaeth gan y genethod) i siopa. Tra oeddem ni yn Sain Ffagan, aeth Siôn Elwyn i stiwdio Radio Cymru yn Llandaf, ynghyd ag aelod o Gôr Ceredigion ac Osian Rowlands o’r BBC, i siarad ar raglen Nia am y cyngerdd a’r profiad o gael canu mewn côr o’r fath.

Am chwarter i bedwar, cyfarfu pawb y tu allan i Neuadd Dewi Sant, yn baciau i gyd ac yn barod am y noson o’n blaenau. Â’r ‘awr fawr’ yn dynesu, roedd pawb ohonom ar dân eisiau eistedd yn eu seddau a rhyddhau ffrwyth ein llafur i’r gwrandawyr yn y neuadd ac ar y radio. Cyrhaeddodd hanner awr wedi saith o’r diwedd, gyda chyfle i fwynhau’r gerddorfa’n chwarae eu rhaglen, a gwrando ar yr unawdwraig fyd-enwog, Catrin Finch ar y delyn. Wedi’r toriad, fodd bynnag, arnom ni yr oedd pob llygad yn y neuadd. 

Talodd yr holl ymarfer ar ei ganfed ac aeth y cyngerdd yn union fel yr oedden ni wedi’i ddymuno. Roedd y wefr ar y diwedd yn anhygoel, a tharodd y timpani ragarweiniad yr anthem i gloi’r cyngerdd. 

Yn syth wedyn, allan o’r Neuadd ac ar y bws, a chychwyn ar y daith flinedig adref. Cyrhaeddon ni’r Gogledd yn oriau mân y bore fore Mawrth, a phawb yn edrych ymlaen at noson dda, neu fore da, o gwsg!   

Mae’n dda cael dweud bod Adrian Partington yn uchel ei ganmoliaeth i’r cyfun-gôr ac, yn ei eiriau ef, ‘Dim ond yng Nghymru y gallai 300 o bobl ifanc ddod at ei gilydd ddau ddiwrnod cyn cyngerdd fel hyn, a chanu i’r safon yma. Mae’n wirioneddol wych.’

I gloi, hoffwn, ar ran y côr, ddiolch yn fawr iawn i’r BBC am y cyfle, ac yn arbennig i’n tiwtoriaid — Jenny Pearson, Pat Jones, Arwel Wyn Williams a Mari Pritchard am wneud y penwythnos yn un mor anhygoel a chofiadwy.

Report by Sion Elwyn Hughes

 

Yn sgil gwahoddiad i gymryd rhan ym Mhrom Ysgolion Music for Youth ar y 10fed o Dachwedd, 2010, cafodd Côr Ieuenctid Môn wahaoddiadau i berfformio mewn sawl lleoliad ar draws Llundain, gan gynnwys yn Nhy Siaradwr Ty'r Cyffredin ac yn y Ty ei hun.

 

Woodwind Ensemble Events

CLARINET FOCUS with Paolo De Gaspari
Saturday, 26th November 2011, 9.45am - 4pm - click here

Woodwind players in Gwynedd & Môn Symphonic Band and Senior Orchestra - click here

CLARINET & SAXOPHONE PLAYDAY
with Paolo De Gaspari, Linda Merrick, Stephanie Reeve, Andy Scott (with Sax Assault) and Jeffery Wilson - click here

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JUNIOR BRASS BAND FEBRUARY 2012 GLAN LLYN COURSE

Glan Llyn Course - click here

Health Certificate and Glan Llyn Information - click here

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HARP CONSORT

Côr Telyn Hŷn - Sunday - November 27th - click here

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Big Band Course Conwy November 4-6

Information - click here